Welcome to The Master’s Tax & Financial Services
Our website is an information resource designed to help you learn more about personal finance. We believe that good financial decisions don’t have to be confusing. Our hope is that this website will assist you in learning more about tax issues, investing, retirement, insurance, preparing financially for college, estate planning, and wealth preservation.
As in other areas of life, each of us will be more successful in our financial matters if we hold to a clear objective and make decisions in alignment with our objective. Janelle and Richard are prepared to assist you to:
- Clarify and define your goals
- Identify solutions that fit your needs
- File complete and accurate tax returns taking your best elections
- Plan for future tax events in order to minimize taxes
- Understand how changing financial conditions affect you
- Track your financial progress
- Make investment planning easier (Richard)
Through years of disciplined saving Richard was able to retire from his engineering work early in 2013 at the age of 58. Retirement not only allows more time for grandchildren, but more time for this business. Whatever your future financial goals are - retirement, helping fund college for children or grandchildren, or others - Richard is prepared to help.
No one likes to see a letter from the IRS or state tax or revenue authority, but both Janelle and Richard have taken advanced course work on helping people work through these situations. Both are licensed to represent taxpayers before the IRS.
We are open year-round. During the summer we are often out for a week or so for specialized Continuing Professional Education (CPE) or vacation with grandchildren. But we stay in touch and can help you address your concerns.
Please browse our site. It will not only introduce you to our company philosophy and services, but it will also offer a wealth of educational materials, articles, newsletters, calculators, and other tools — all designed to keep you up-to-date on financial issues, strategies, and trends. This educational material is updated frequently.
Helpful Content
Long-Term-Care Needs
Estimate potential long-term care costs and what coverage may help address them.
Should I Buy or Lease an Auto?
Compare the true costs of buying versus leasing a vehicle to find the better fit for you.
Understanding Extended Care
Understanding the types of extended care services—and what those services could cost—may be critical.
Traditional vs. Roth IRA
One or the other? Perhaps both traditional and Roth IRAs can play a part in your retirement plans.
Why Medicare Should Be Part of Your Retirement Strategy
How Medicare can address health care needs in your retirement strategy.
Retiree Health Care Coverage Overseas
Retirees traveling abroad need to know that their health insurance travels with them.
First Year of Retirement: What to Expect
Understand the key financial and lifestyle shifts that happen in your first year of retirement.
Universal Life Insurance
Universal life insurance is permanent insurance with a flexible premium. Here's how it works.
Understanding the Alternate Valuation Date
Executors can value the estate on the date of death, or on its six-month anniversary —the “Alternate Valuation Date."
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What Rate Would I Need to Earn on My Savings?
Work backwards from your savings goal to find the rate of return you'd need to get there.
What Is My Net Worth?
Get a snapshot of your overall financial picture by calculating your total net worth.
Inflation & Retirement
See how inflation over time could affect the purchasing power of your retirement income.
Credit Card Payoff
Find out how long it may take to pay off a credit card balance and what it costs in interest.
The Power of 401k Catch-Ups
See how catch-up contributions after age 50 could significantly boost your retirement balance.
How Much Home Can I Afford?
Estimate how much home may fit within your budget based on income and expenses.
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A Fruitful Retirement: Social Security Benefit
Taking your Social Security benefits at the right time may help maximize your benefit.
Making Your Tax Bracket Work
Have you explored all your options when it comes to managing your taxable income?
The Wild West of Data Theft
Learn about cyber liability insurance in this entertaining video.
Retirement Plan Detectives
Watch this fun video for tips on how to search for missing money.
The Other Sure Thing
A new LIMRA study shows that 40% of Americans believe the death of a primary wage earner would cause financial challenges.
Should You Tap Retirement Savings to Fund College?
There are three things to consider before dipping into retirement savings to pay for college.